NPR 2012-12-21

　　From NPR news in Washington, I am Louise Schiavone.

 

　　The time is short before Washington and the nation, face the consequences of a fiscal¹ stand off. But on Capital Hill today, the partisan² writer has began intense ever. Before the House convene³ today, senior House Republican Eric Cantor told reporters that GOP control chamber⁴ was poised⁵ to consider and likely pass a Republican plan to raise taxes on people earning over a million dollars a year.

 

　　“ Absence a balance offer from the President, this is our nation’s best option, and Senate Democrats⁷ will take up both these measures immediately.”

 

　　No.2 Senate Democrat⁶  Dick Deben said no way. “ This is waste of time, and tragically⁸ and unfortunately for the economy, as weak as it is. There be going through this political direction, a few days before Christmas. This should been put to bed long ago.”

 

　　The President and Speaker of the House have been meeting privately⁹ to try to crept the compromise.

 

　　A sad day on Capital Hill where the flag-draped coffin¹⁰ holding the remains¹¹ of the Hawaii Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye is laying in state in the Rotunda¹². As NPR’s David Welna reports Inouye was third in line to the presidency¹³ when he died Monday at the age of 88.

 

　　Senator Inouye’s coffin was placed in the center of the Rotunda on the same black driven catafalque used when Abraham Lincoln’ s body laid in state there. Hawaii’s first ever member of Congress served there 53 years after fighting in World War II and losing an arm in combat.

 

　　As Inouye’ s colleagues fathered in the Rotunda, Senate majority leader Harry¹⁴ Reid did him a last farewell. “ It was heavy heart that I and we did aloha ,goodbye, I love you, to friend and legend Senator Daniel K.Inouye  .”

 

　　After amemorial service Friday at the National Cathedral, Inouye’s    remains will be flown to Hawaii for burial. David Welna, NPR news, the Capital.

 

　　The first major storm of the winter season made it’s way across the mid-west early this morning. Iowa public radio Sandia Dick reports in some places the weather has been furious.

 

　　If you wake up in the middle of the country this morning, chances are you wake up to a world blinked in the white and a snowed in car, blizzard¹⁵ or storm morning have issued from more than a dozens states. And thousands of homes and businesses are without power.

 

　　The National Weather Services Kevin Scott says the snow part the storm is mostly over. “ But the big story today will be the winds were expecting very, very strong winds. 30, 40 miles per hour guess that to 50, may be even cost to 50 miles per hour. The wind guess which will blow up , now around the K has a traveled conditions.”

 

　　And noxious¹⁶ on the roads, expects C.A (Chicago Airport?)locked up canceled flights. Just in time for the weekend before Christmas. From NPR news, I am Sandia Dick, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 

　　On wall street, the Dow is up 48 points, the NASDAQ up five. This is NPR.

 

　　Steady job gains and record low mortgage rates, let US sales of previously¹⁷ occupied homes to their highest level in three years last month. Laurence Yunis , chief economist¹⁸ for the National Association of Realtors. “ It has been buy’s market, but now with the inventory¹⁹ beginning standing²⁰ out. The home sellers are beginning to edge over buyers, and beginning to re-have the ability to raise prices.” Yunis reports that home sales rose 5.9% in November.

 

　　Russian President Putin says he supports the measure currently in the legislature that would ban Americans from adopting Russian orphans²¹. NPR’s Corey Flintoff reports he is not said whether he will sign the measure.

 

　　Putin was asked about the bill several times during his yearly news conference. He said it was a legitimate²² response to a new US law that targets alleged²³ Human Rights abusers in Russia. Putin also accused the United States a violating an adoption²⁴ agreement, saying Russian officials were barred form checking an welfare of Russian adopted kids.

 

　　But the criminal leader declined to say whether he would sign the measure into the law if it passes a final reading on Friday. Some Russian officials have said a ban on US adoptions²⁵ would be excessive. Corey Flintoff, NPR news, Moscow.

 

　　A federal judge has upheld the Ohio’s new order restrictions²⁶ on exotic animals. The ruling follows an incidence last year. When an Ohio man released dozens of wild animals from his personal menagerie before killing²⁷ himself. Several of those animals had to be killed to protect the public. US District Court judge George Smith said there is no constitutional right to own these dangerous animals.

 

　　I am Louise Schiavone, NPR news, Washington.

1 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

2 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

9 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

10 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

13 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

14 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

15 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。

16 noxious   

adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• Heavy industry pollutes our rivers with noxious chemicals.重工业产生的有毒化学品会污染我们的河流。
• Many household products give off noxious fumes.很多家用产品散发有害气体。

17 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

18 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

19 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

20 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

21 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

22 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

23 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

24 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

25 adoptions   

n.采用，收养( adoption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Adoption agencies are always so open to alternative family adoptions. 领养中介机构永远都对领养家庭敞开。 来自电影对白
• The number of adoptions has grown in the past year. 去年，收养子女的数字增加了。 来自互联网

26 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

27 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。